The upcoming release of the Jordan Peele-produced football horror film, Him, gives me the perfect excuse to explore my favorite niche subgenre: the scary sports movie. I’ll admit, it’s a genre with some pretty flexible boundaries. But as a massive fan of both sports and horror, I love the rare moments when the tension of high-stakes sports collides with the terror of a great scary movie.
After all, I’ve always said that being a dedicated sports fan can be a gut-wrenching affair. The ups and downs of a single game are as anxiety-driven as any horror movie. Heck, some of us wouldn’t mind Freddy Krueger haunting our dreams if it meant getting a dub on Sundays.
So, to celebrate the release of Him on September 19, I’ve revamped my original list to bring you the most definitive collection of scary sports movies. From psychological thrillers to dystopian death games, here are 10 films you need to add to your watchlist.
Black Sunday (1977)
I’ve often felt the scariest thing at the Super Bowl is the halftime show, but this 1977 flick has that beat. Black Sunday is a nail-biting political thriller about a plot to use a Goodyear Blimp to attack the Big Game, starring the great Robert Shaw and Bruce Dern.
Based on a novel by The Silence of the Lambs author Thomas Harris, Black Sunday draws its inspiration from the tragic Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics. For me, that’s what makes the film so freaky. It’s not a supernatural horror, but a tense, grounded drama that preys on very real-world fears.
Where to stream Black Sunday
Black Swan (2010)
Is ballet a sport? After watching Darren Aronofsky’s psychological horror masterpiece, Black Swan, I’d say it’s one of the most grueling. Natalie Portman gives a towering, Oscar-winning performance as a ballerina whose quest for perfection sends her into a terrifying spiral of paranoia and delusion.
For me, this film is the ultimate “scary sports movie” because it masterfully captures the immense physical and mental toll of elite competition. It’s a haunting and unforgettable look at how the drive to be the best can break you.
Where to stream Black Swan
Death Race 2000 (1975)
“You finish first or not at all.” That line from the trailer perfectly sums up Roger Corman’s Death Race 2000. This staple of 1970s schlock cinema was famously rushed to theaters to beat the bigger-budget Rollerball to the punch.
The real horror here isn’t just the on-screen gore; it’s the film’s cynical vision of a society that cheers for death as entertainment. Set in a dystopian future, the national pastime is a road race where drivers score points by mowing down pedestrians. It’s a brutal satire with a surprisingly sharp edge that was decades ahead of its time.
Where to stream Death Race 2000
Looking for the hottest entertainment?
Subscribe to CableTV.com’s email newsletter for the latest TV event viewing guides, entertaining takes, and money-saving promotions.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms and Conditions.
The Fan (1996)
Sports movies are usually thrilling by default. But director Tony Scott takes things to another level with his 1996 psychological thriller The Fan. Starring Wesley Snipes and Robert De Niro, the movie explores the dark side of sports as an obsessive baseball fan’s erratic behavior escalates when things don’t go his way. Snipes plays the San Francisco Giants’ latest blockbuster signing, while De Niro is the unhinged fan with a deadly game up his sleeve.
Where to stream The Fan
Foxcatcher (2014)
Foxcatcher is another dark thriller set in the world of sports. Loosely based on actual events, the film explores the relationship between multimillionaire John du Pont and his Olympic wrestlers, Mark and David Schultz. Steve Carell is genuinely terrifying as du Pont, a dramatic turn that’s a far cry from his comedic work. And while Foxcatcher is a well-crafted movie, I recommend lining up something more cheerful to watch afterward. Despicable Me is a solid palate cleanser.
Where to stream Foxcatcher
The Novice (2021)
If you love the obsessive, psychological nature of Black Swan, you need to see The Novice. The film stars Isabelle Fuhrman as a university freshman who joins the rowing team and descends into a brutal physical and mental fixation. It’s the feature debut of director Lauren Hadaway, who previously worked in the sound department on the equally intense film Whiplash. IYKYK.
The Novice perfectly captures the horror of a competitive spirit gone too far. It paints a visceral picture of the cost of greatness that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. Seriously, this movie is so stressful, it’ll make your FitBit tell you to take a break.
Where to stream The Novice
Rollerball (1975)
If you’re a fan of modern “death game” stories like The Hunger Games or Squid Game, you owe it to yourself to watch one of the originals. Released just months after its scrappy competitor, Death Race 2000, Norman Jewison’s Rollerball is a slick and serious take on the dystopian sports genre.
James Caan plays the star athlete who uses his survival as a form of defiance against a rigged, corporate-run society. While the on-track action is downright vicious, the film’s true horror lies in the chilling future it presents. Come for the Mad Max-esque roller derby action, stay for the crushing existential dread.
Where to stream Rollerball
The Running Man (1987)
Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in The Running Man, a film about a reality game show where the contestants are convicted criminals on the run from professional killers. Based on a Stephen King book published under his pseudonym Richard Bachman, The Running Man continues the dystopian sports theme of Death Race 2000 and Rollerball. But it features more athletic variety and many one-liners that only the Governator can deliver.
I‘m especially excited for director Edgar Wright’s new adaptation, coming to theaters this November. Wright’s high-octane visual style should lend itself nicely to the story’s explosive set pieces.
Where to stream The Running Man
Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf (1988)
If you’re looking for a more family-friendly entry on this list, you can’t go wrong with this classic TV movie. The plot is delightfully bonkers: Shaggy is turned into a werewolf and forced to compete in a Wacky Races-style road rally against a whole pack of classic monsters. It even features everyone’s favorite annoying character: Scrappy-Doo.
So grab the Scooby Snacks and get ready for some spooky, silly fun. And if this movie leaves you wanting more, I’ve got you covered with my complete guide on how to watch every Scooby-Doo series and movie.
Where to stream Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf
Teen Wolf (1985)
I’m not going to say Teen Wolf is the best basketball movie. But it’s the best movie to feature a monster character using their supernatural abilities for the good of sports. (Take that, Twilight, and your baseball-playing vampires.)
If werewolves participating in athletics is your jam, you can rest assured that several werewolf sports movies exist. Teen Wolf Too took the wolf-man shenanigans to the boxing ring, while the earlier Full Moon High was all about football. There’s also the bonkers Ski Wolf, which I enjoy for its low-budget appeal.
Where to stream Teen Wolf
A brief history of sports in horror movies
As you can tell by my list, sports-themed horror movies aren’t that common. Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) is probably one of the earliest examples of a film that blends the sports and horror genres. But it wasn’t until the 1980s, during the Golden Age of slasher films, that sports-related terror caught on.
Graduation Day (1981) had several gory kills involving weaponized sports equipment. Then, in 1982, the sacred union of sports and horror changed forever when Jason Voorhees donned the classic hockey mask in Friday the 13th Part III.
Over the past few decades, there have been many memorable on-screen moments where sports and horror collided. Principal Himbry getting gutted and hung on display at the Woodsboro High School football field in Scream (1996) always comes to mind, as does that nasty gymnastics death in Final Destination 5 (2011). Thankfully, the ghosts in Field of Dreams (1989) knew their boundaries. Otherwise, that could’ve been a completely different movie.
The genre has seen a bit of a resurgence in recent years with films like Bring It On: Cheer or Die and the Brazilian body-horror flick Tinnitus (both 2022). But the movie that has me most excited, and the reason I wanted to resurrect this guide, is the upcoming sports horror film, Him. It looks poised to be the next great entry in this small but thrilling subgenre—check out the Him trailer for yourself.
The best of horror and sports all in one place
Here at CableTV.com, our experts are obsessed with everything that hits your screen. Whether it’s a deep dive into the Halloween franchise or a complete guide to watching the World Series, we’ve got you covered. Check out our horror and sports hub pages, so you don’t miss a single jump scare or home run this season.
